Two staff at Cherry charged with assault
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 24, 2008 12:19 PM
Cherry Hospital police arrested two health care technicians at the hospital Friday, charging them with assaulting a patient.
William Kenneth Johnson, 52, of Devonshire Drive, and Taniko Dominique Upton, 33, of Central Heights Road were charged with simple assault on a handicapped person, a misdemeanor.
The assault allegedly occurred on Monday, during which time a male patient alleged he was beaten by the two staffers. According to the arrest warrant, the accused struck the victim "on or about the abdomen area, knocking same to the floor, kicking and punching him in the head and side areas."
Johnson and Upton appeared before a magistrate on Friday. Each was placed under $5,000 secured bond, and were later released after posting bond.
Their court date has been set for Sept. 16 at 1:30 p.m.
Calls to hospital director Dr. Jack St. Clair were not returned, and officials from the Department of Health and Human Services were unavailable for comment, but did authorize release of the arrest report.